Shabden and Upper Gatton Parks Circular Walk
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
grassland. chalk the to returning now is wildlife and more once land the grazing sheep in resulted has Farm Park Shabden of farmer tenant species. scarce and rare many the and Services Countryside Trust Wildlife supporting habitats, wildlife richest our of one views. extensive and trees specimen Surrey by methods farming wildlife-friendly now is grassland chalk of kind this and livestock fine mansions, large its with parkland, century traditional, more use to efforts Determined grazing the alongside thrive to wildlife other 18th through you guides and century, 7th the 1980s. the in stopped were methods Such and flowers wild chalk-loving of variety wide in recorded were which of some villages, pretty disappear. to wildlife the of much caused This a allowed This centuries. many for grazing and hamlets isolated past you lead will walk This structure. its destroyed and soil the enriched sheep for used traditionally was area the activity. human of centuries of result which 70s, and 1960s the in here used and fertile very not are area this of soils chalky the is here explore can you countryside beautiful were fertilisers, of use the and ploughing dry The years. the over changed also has N I M the but landscape, this shaped has ature including methods, farming ntensive which farmland, is countryside this of uch Enjoy and Explore Explore and Enjoy This leaflet is best used with OS maps: This leaflet was produced on behalf of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council by the 1:25000 Explorer 146 Old Surrey Downs Project. (Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate) 1:50000 Landranger 187 (Dorking & Reigate) Suitability This 7 mile, 11km walk takes you through some Restoring our beautiful chalk grassland Much of this walk is level, although of Surrey’s most scenic countryside. We restore our beautiful chalk grassland through there are some stiles and steep slopes It starts and finishes at the Chipstead Meads practical management. over uneven ground that makes it Recreation Ground car park, near Elmore Pond, We raise awareness of the importance of chalk unsuitable for wheelchairs and buggies. Chipstead. Grid Ref: TQ 277 568. grassland as part of our natural heritage. Nearest Railway Station: Chipstead (one mile We encourage others to take part in discovering Footwear from Chipstead Meads Recreation Ground) its past and securing its future. Some parts of the walk may be muddy For up-to-date public transport information, For information telephone: 01737 733933 email: [email protected] – stout walking boots with good treads contact Surrey Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or www.traveline.info or visit www.oldsurreydowns.org.uk are recommended. Special wildlife Dog Walkers The Shabden and Upper Gatton Parks Circular Walk is one of six walks that link with the Inspiring views Sheep and cows may be seen on this Millennium Trail, a long-distance footpath that stretches from Banstead Downs to Horley. For walk. They are helping chalk-loving Rich in history further information, telephone Reigate and Downlands Project wild flowers to thrive by controlling the Banstead Borough Council on 01737 276000 Waymarks for these walks have been installed by growth of rank grasses and rough or visit www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk Downlands Project staff and volunteers. If you vegetation. Please respect the would like more information about the project, or Countryside Code by keeping your would like to help restore our countryside, contact us at: The Downlands Project, The dogs on a lead when walking near Omnibus Building, Lesbourne Road, Reigate, livestock. Surrey RH2 7JA. Tel: 01737 737700 or visit www.downlandsproject.org.uk We gratefully acknowledge the Colebrook Family Illustrations by John Davis 01243 512351. and Lodge Farm (Fanny’s Farm Shop) for allowing a Leaflet produced by JBD Media Limited 01787 220028 permissive route to pass across their land. 09/04/09 (40K). A link with the 1 Page 12:23 2/6/09 53188:p (Here, from the top of Ashtead Hill, you have a fine view of the Cross a stile and turn right onto High Road, then immediately This walk will take you past the Well House Inn – so called W elcome to the Shabden and Upper Gatton North Downs ridge stretching away into Kent, with the M25 left onto a footpath. Cross the stile and follow the path as it dips because the garden contains a well, known as St Margeret’s Parks Circular Walk – a historic journey through running along the foot of the Downs and Reigate Hill Golf Course down and then up again to edge of the field. Cross the stile and Well or Mag’s Well. (The name Mugswell is derived from this.) Country Estates and rural downland parishes. on the other side of the M25.) a road. Go straight on, through the gate and follow the footpath The Inn, which is supposedly haunted, dates from the 14th Century, although the well is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Turn right and between the fields, over a stile and then through a kissing gate. This walk starts at Chipstead Meads Recreation Ground car follow the Carry straight on along the field edge, ignore the footpath on the park. permissive path right and carry on downhill to the corner of the field. Turn left From the car park, turn left and walk along the pavement in along the field and then shortly turn right and follow the path beside the hedge front of Elmore Pond. edge (this is not (keeping the hedge on your left). a public right of At the corner, turn right and follow the field edge. (You are way). Go now walking part of the main Millennium Trail, so follow the blue through a gap waymarks from now on.) Cross two stiles, then cross Green Lane in the and follow the path straight on, beside the woodland and then hedgerow, alongside fields. Cross Monkswell Lane and carry straight on cross a stile and through two kissing gates and along follow the path the path beside the field. Go through between the fence and Chickens and cakes can be found another kissing gate and the hedgerow until you at Fanny's Farm Shop then downhill reach a gap in the hedge through the leading out onto Markedge Lane (so-called because it marks woodland to the parish boundary). Cross Markedge Lane and go Chipstead Lane. straight on into the entrance to Fanny’s Farm Shop. Elmore Pond The path here is not a public right of way. Carry This is Chipstead’s village pond – a feature that has disappeared straight on past the shop on the path through Lodge Farm. from much of the English countryside. It was used for many (If for any reason it is not possible to walk through the The Long Plantation centuries as a watering place for the sheep and cattle that were farm, cross Markedge Lane and turn left. After 50 yards Cross Chipstead Lane and follow the footpath straight up the driven along the High Road to livestock markets in London. take the footpath to your right, passing Lodge Farm on the hill. Cross a stile and carry on through woodland. Follow the right.) Cross Elmore Road and continue straight on along High waymarked posts across the golf course (beware of flying golf Road, eventually passing the entrance to Shabden Park Farm on balls!) until you reach woodland on the other side. Go your right. (You will pass an old well house, built for the Shabden straight on into the woodland and then out onto Waterhouse Park Estate in the late 1800s and restored by the Chipstead Lane. (The main Millennium trail goes straight on here, so Village Preservation Society in 1989.) Use the pavement on follow the orange circular walk disks.) Turn right and walk the right hand side after the Cricket Club. Just before the along the road verge with care. Take the first bridleway on road curves round to the left, cross the road and take the the right, along a private road. Once you reach the houses, footpath on the left through woodland, which brings you to follow the road to the left past the pond on your right. Hogscross Lane. (Much of this woodland is cherry laurel, an Continue between the houses and just past the last house exotic evergreen from South East Europe, widely planted in on the right, take the footpath to the right and follow the Victorian times to provide game cover. The leaves path back onto the golf course and downhill towards the contain cyanide, which is why insects do not eat them.) woodland. Cross the stile into the Long Plantation, go Turn left onto Hogscross Lane and walk along the road for straight on at the cross-paths and where the path forks about 50 metres. go right, following the path downhill towards a field. Take the footpath to the right, leading between two buildings The Long Plantation was planted by John Fanshawe, and through Noke Farm (now a new housing development). Go who acquired the Shabden Park Estate in the 1770s. It through the kissing gate, bear right and continue downhill to a has since been designated as a Site of Special barrier. Carry on with the hedge edge to your right, until you Scientific Interest by English Nature, (now Natural reach a stile at the bottom of the slope. Cross the stile and follow England), in recognition of its chalk woodland and the path diagonally across the field, then cross another stile and grassland flora. walk uphill into woodland. Come out of the woodland and cross Go through the kissing gate and carry on downhill another field.